ACCORDING to Alfred Wainwright, Blencathra is “one of the grandest objects in the Lake District,” writes JOHN EDMONDSON. This circular ramble goes from Mungrisdale and visits this popular fell and three more Wainwrights. The village name, which is pronounced ‘mun-grize-dale,’ means valley where young pigs graze. 'Porklings' no longer run wild on these fell slopes but on a clear day there are spectacular views and the route is easy to follow.

Park at the roadside between Beckside and Mungrisdale and start from the village hall. Map reference NY 363 301, postcode CA11 0XR.

INFORMATION

Distance: 10 miles with 3,000 feet of ascent

Time: 6 hours

Terrain: fell paths

Maps: OS Explorer OL5

ROUTE

1 Follow the path up from the left side of the village hall, which was built in 2005. On meeting the road keep straight on past St Kentigern’s Church. After a road junction turn left through a gate onto a track and right on a path going steeply uphill through bracken and then gorse. Enjoy views of the Bannerdale valley and the grandly named River Glendermackin that snakes through it. Continue up the heather clad fell. The path passes six piles of stones, several of which deceptively appear to be the summit from below. Bowscale Tarn can be seen in its amphitheatre of crags below on the right. In Victorian times, visitors were brought by pony to observe its wild and moody setting. According to legend, two immortal fish lived in this 56-feet deep corrie tarn. Curve round to the left to reach the stone shelter on Bowscale Fell summit at 2,316-feet, the first of the walk’s Wainwrights.

2 Continue towards Blencathra, going downhill at first, then bear left to follow the ridge of Bannerdale Crags. Its 2,230-feet summit is the second Wainwright. Turn right and follow the path curving left and ascending steeply around Foule Crag, then over the saddle-shaped fell. Pass a large cross laid out in white stones (its origin is uncertain) and a small tarn with a pile of stones in the middle. Continue to the 2,847-feet top of Blencathra. According to Wainwright, Blencathra is one of the grandest objects in the Lake District. Its name probably comes from blain, an old Cumbric word meaning top and cadeir, meaning seat, referring to the shape of the fell and its alternative name Saddleback.

3 Retrace your steps for about 100 yards then turn right and descend on a zig-zag path down Scales Fell. At a path junction where the path becomes grassy and less steep, fork left. Walk across the hause (a col or ridge between two valleys) and ascend Souther (pronounced souter) Fell. On reaching the cairn turn right and continue to the 1,680-feet summit of Souther Fell, the walk’s final Wainwright. The relatively flat ground to the east and south of the fell emphasises that Souther is a cornerstone of the Lake District northern fells. Turn right - facing Great Mell Fell in the distance - and descend over rough fell to meet a path. Turn left, heading towards Beckside farm buildings, and descend along a pleasant grassy path. At the road turn left to go through a road gate and along the road to The Mill Inn at Mungrisdale. Until the footbridge is replaced, cross the River Glendermackin via the road bridge ahead, turn right and return to the village hall.

Next week: Whinfell Beacon and the Westmorland Borrowdale

NB: restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map